House Democrats unveil immigration plan in hopes of pressuring Republicans [Washington Post]
House
Democrats released their own comprehensive immigration proposal Wednesday,
hoping to put renewed pressure on the Republican majority to move forward on
stalled border legislation. But GOP aides quickly dismissed the proposal and
said it was unlikely to get a vote in the chamber, reducing the bill to a
symbolic attempt to keep immigration reform alive while Washington focuses on
the government shutdown….Some immigration proponents have applauded recent
statements by key GOP leaders that they intend to move a series of
smaller-scale bills onto the House floor, perhaps in late October or early
November. But the decision by Pelosi and her allies, including members of the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, to pursue a new legislative strategy illustrated
their growing frustration.
Gov.
Jerry Brown to sign bill giving immigrants driver’s licenses [Associated Press]
Gov.
Jerry Brown is expected to sign a bill Thursday adding California to the
growing list of states allowing immigrants in the country illegally to obtain
driver licenses. Immigrant advocates have long lobbied for the change in the
nation’s most populous state so immigrants can drive without fearing being
pulled over for a ticket, which could wind up getting them deported….In
California, the bill authored by Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo would grant
licenses to anyone who passes written and road tests, regardless of immigration
status. The licenses would carry a distinction on the front of the card and
state that the document may be used for driving, not as federal identification.
State
expands citrus quarantine in Tulare County [Fresno Bee]
An
additional portion of Tulare County has been placed under quarantine for the
Asian citrus psyllid following the detection of one psyllid near the city of
Exeter in Tulare County, the California Department of Food and Agriculture
announced Wednesday. The new quarantine zone measures 86 square miles in the
county and is bordered on the north by Yokohl Creek; on the east by Road 244;
on the south by Avenue 220; and on the west by Road 156. This area is in
addition to the existing quarantines in the Porterville and Dinuba areas of
Tulare County.
Growers
grapple with new groundwater rules [Hanford Sentinel]
Kings
County farmers had a chance this week to hear firsthand how best to adjust to
sweeping new groundwater pollution rules. The new regulations, adopted last
month by the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board, require most
commercial growing operations in Kings County to keep track of how much nitrogen
fertilizer they apply, submit groundwater quality assessment reports and show
evidence of erosion and sediment control plans. The Kings County Farm Bureau on
Tuesday held what they intend to be the first of several educational meetings
to bring local growers up to speed.
Vineyards,
olive farm ask for exemptions from moratorium on planting crops [San Luis
Obispo Tribune]
Four
vineyards and a small olive farm have applied for exemptions to the county’s
moratorium on planting irrigated crops in the Paso Robles groundwater basin.
According to information provided by acting county planning director Kami
Griffin, the five exemption requests would cover 1,104 acres and are spread
throughout the sprawling 505,000-acre groundwater basin….The five farms applied
for the exemptions after county supervisors passed an emergency ordinance Aug.
27. The ordinance forbids the planting of any new irrigated crops unless the
water they use is offset by conservation elsewhere in the basin. However, a
farm that had made significant investments in preparing to plant its crop prior
to Aug. 27 can apply for an exemption, called a vested right. The exact
criteria for establishing a vested right are a matter of intense controversy.
New
California law aims to cultivate urban agriculture [Los Angeles Times]
…Now, California
cities and counties eager to encourage community gardens and small-scale farms
in urban pockets have a novel tool at their disposal that could help solve
Galloway's problem. Legislation recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will allow
municipalities to lower the assessed value — and property taxes — on plots of
three acres or less if owners pledge to dedicate them to growing food for at
least five years. "…The legislation authored by Assemblyman Phil Ting
(D-San Francisco) arose from this city's rich blend of urban ag interests:
community gardens with long waiting lists, nonprofits that offer hands-on
nutritional education, and small enterprises like Galloway's that took root
when officials here changed zoning laws. The program is voluntary: Interested
cities can now move forward to create "urban agriculture incentive
zones." County supervisors must then sign off. (Counties can also directly
create their own zones.)
Ag
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